First time filming giant squid living on the ocean floor

Scientists have filmed a living giant squid in its natural habitat for the first time – some 100 years after the species was first discovered – in a testament to the incredible vastness and mystery of the ocean.

This squid is a juvenile, so it's not as big as its "giant" name suggests. The animal is currently only about 11.8 inches (30 centimeters) long. However, when it reaches adulthood, it could reach 23 feet (7 meters) long and weigh up to 1,100 pounds (500 kilograms), making it the heaviest invertebrate on the planet.

The historic footage was accidentally captured by an expedition on a 35-day mission to explore the South Atlantic Ocean near the South Sandwich Islands. The baby giant squid was filmed at a depth of nearly 2,000 feet (about 610 meters). Dr. Michelle Taylor, the lead researcher, said they were initially unsure whether the squid was a giant squid, but filmed it anyway because it was "beautiful and unusual." The footage was later verified by another biologist.

"It's exciting to see live footage of a baby giant squid in its natural habitat for the first time, and it's fascinating to think that they're completely unaware of humans," said squid expert Dr Kat Bolstad.

Most giant squid found in the wild are dead, often found in whale stomachs. Dying adults are occasionally spotted near the surface, but this is the first time a live individual has been filmed in the wild. We still don't understand much about their life cycle, beyond the fact that juveniles are transparent while adults are not. The Natural History Museum says it's difficult to estimate the size of the global population.

This event once again shows that until now, humans are still 'blind' about their own oceans. Only 20% of the seabed has been fully mapped. The ocean is truly the 'final frontier' of exploration on Earth.

Samuel Daniel

Update 26 May 2025